Hollow shaft



C. L. RITCHIE July 16, 1935.

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Patented July 16, 1935 y `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLLOW SHAFT Charles L. Ritchie, Paterson, N. J., assignor to Wiley W. McMinn, Orange, N. J.

Application December 10, 1934, Serial No. 756,887 In Great Britain November 16, 1931 22 Claims. (Cl. 273-80) This application is a continua-tion in part strip of uniform width when it is made into replacing my copending application Serial No. atapered shaft; and 495,904, filed November 15, 1930. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a tapered shaft The present invention relates to hollow tubular embodying the invention and made from a strip members and has particular reference to members of metal of uniformly tapering width. 5

of this kind which are wholly or in part tapered. Considering rst the form of the invention in Members of this kind are particularly suitable which the hollow member or shaft is made from for use as shafts for golf clubs and for the pura strip of metal of uniform width, and with parpose of explaining and illustrating the invention ticular reference to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the l0 I have shown in the accompanying drawing two drawing, the golf club shown in Fig. l comprises 10 embodiments of the invention as applied to golf a striking head I, a hollow tapering shaft 2 of club shafts. Itis to be understood, however, that suitable metal, having its smaller end portion the invention is not limited in its application to firmly secured, as by a rivet 3 or other suitable shafts of this character, but includes hollow tubumeans, within the usual socket provided in the lar members generally. shank of head I, and a conventional grip 4 15 In accordance with the present invention I proapplied to the larger end portion of the shaft and vide ahollow tubular member having longitudinal which may be formed of leatherA strips and/or taper by winding, as by twisting, turning and/or other material wound on the shaft and suitably rolling, a long strip of suitable metal into helical secured together and to the shaft. The improved or spiral form so as to produce a hollow structure shaft of the club is made from a single thin narhaving substantiallyA the desired tapered form of row strip 5, which is much longer than the shaft the finished product and with the outer surface and which is formed of a suitable ductile material, of the convolutions of such structure substantially preferably unhardened or only partially temin a common conical or like surface of revolution pered spring steel. This is done by spirally windand with the edge portions of adjacent convoluing such strip about an axis transverse of and tions in abutting relation. oblique with respect to the length of the strip as The structure thus formed is then made into an fed and the strip is wound through or into a integral member by welding or otherwise fixedly plurality of turns of helical form to thereby prosecuring together the abutting edge portions of duce a series of contiguous convolutions formadjacent convolutions and the member may then ing a straight hollow member. The opposed or be finished by grinding and/or polishing operaabutting edge portions of the strip at the spiral tions for removing surface irregularities resultjoint between adjacent convolutions of the hollow ing from the welding or other fixing operation, member are then integrally or xedly secured toand such surface imperfections as may be present gether while maintaining such edge portions close in the material employed. n together. Preferably the said opposed edge por- 35 In producing -hollow "members embodying the tions are integrally or fixedly secured throughout invention, the strip of which the member is the entire length of the spiral joint 5, and such formed may be either of uniform width or it may edge portions are preferably so secured together be tapered, and in the accompanying drawing by autogenous welding through the use of suitforming a part of this specification I have illusable electric Welding aPParatUS- Subsequent t0 40 trated hollow members made from both kinds of the xing 0f Such opposed 0r abutting edge porstrip tions the member is then tempered and where a In the drawing, Fig 1 shows pari-yin elevation smooth or polished surface is desired for the and partly in section a golf club having a shaft mshfad artlcle the mama is finally mshed embodying the invention and made from a strip by armdmg and/Or pollshmg Operauons for re of uniform Width; moving the surface roughness 'occasioned by the Fig' 2 is a more or less diagrammatic View of Welding or other fixing operat1on, and also such surface im erfections as there ma be in the maa'ppamtus adapted to be used m producmg tubu' terial of tllie strip from which lhe member is lar members embodying the invention, and illusformed l trates auch apparatus in use in foFmng a shaft The hollow member formed as just described from a 5mlD 0f metal 0f uniform Wldth? should, of course, be tapered substantially in Fig- '3 iS a del/@IODIHSH ShOWng a portion 0f conformity with the desired taper of the finished the strip from which the shaft in Flg. 1 is formed Shaft 2 produced therefrom by the tempering and and illustrates the deformation occurring in a finishing operations. This may be, and for thc purpose of economy in production, preferably is, accomplished by employing a strip of uniform width, although this necessitates progressively increasing the pitch of the strip,'that is, the axial length per convolution, indicated at P in Fig. 1, from the larger to the smaller end of the hollow tapered member upon forming the latter. When the strip is wound with increasing pitch in forming said hollow member, the adjacent abutting or opposing edge portions of the strip at the spiral joint 5', unless provision is made for counteracting the same, will tend to spread apart at intervals and to project outwardly the one past the other in progressive amounts toward the smaller end of such member. I have found that it is possible readily to produce from a ductile metal strip of uniform width (e. g. the strip 5), such a hollow tapering member in which theopposed edges of the strip at the spiral joint 5 are disposed in close abutting relation throughout the length of such joint and without either of said edges projecting radially outward past the other a material amount at any point, by winding the strip closely onto a suitably tapered mandrel or arbor and subjecting the strip to sufficient tension as it is being wound onto the mandrel from the larger toward the smaller end of the latter, to effect a slight but progressively increasing deformation thereof. Means whereby this may be accomplished are illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein reference character I designates apparatus having a rotatable head or chuck II in. which one end of a long tapering mandrel or arbor I2 is secured and also having a bearing I3l in which the other end of said mandrel is journalled. Associated with the tapering mandrel I2 is a suitable strip tensioning and feeding device indicated generally at I4. This device may be of any suitable form providing a tension feed for the metal. The apparatus shown in the drawing more or less diagrammatically by way of example comprises clamping plates or jaws I5 and I6 between which the strip 5 is drawn by rotation of the mandrel I2. The desired tension of the strip in the feeding operation is effected by friction due to the pressure of the clamping jaws on the strip. In the construction illustrated the jaws I5 and I6 are held together by bolts I'I passing through suitable openings in the jaws at either side of the strip, and the desired amount of clamping pressure mayA advantageously be obtained by suitable springs IB disposed between the heads of the bolts and one of the clamping jaws, such for example as the jaw I5. With this arrangement the tension of the feed can be varied as desired by varying the compression of the springs due to turning up the securing nuts for the bolts to aV greater or lesser degree.

It will be evident that the tension feeding device must be moved lengthwise of the shaft as the strip is wound on the mandrel, and as will readily be understood this may advantageously be accomplished by mounting the clamping jaws on a suitable traveling carriage (not shown) similar to the tool-holding carriage of a lathe.

In the use of said apparatus to produce av hollow tapering member such as just described from the strip 5 of uniform width, said strip is spirally wound onto mandrel I2 from the larger toward the smaller end of the mandrel as the latter is rotated, by feeding the strip to the mandrel from the device I4, while the latter is caused to move lengthwise of the mandrel at the proper relative speed, at such a rate and under, such tension that the strip will be progressively deformed as above aoosfiee described and `caused. closely and uniformly to engage the mandrel with the opposing edges of its convolutions in close abutting relation throughout the length of the spiral joint 5'. The opposing edge portions at the joint 5 may then be welded together, after which the hollow tapering shaft or member thus produced may be removed from the mandrel and be subjected to the necessary heat-treating and finishing operations to produce the finished shaft 2.

The deformation of a strip of uniform width to produce a hollow tapering member as described, occurs longitudinally of the strip, one edge of the strip being lengthened somewhat relative to the opposite edge of the strip. This deformation is illustrated in Fig. 3, which shows a section 5a. of a shaft similar to that of the club shown in Fig. 1, such section being untwisted and flattened out to show the permanent deformation of the strip due to such lengthening of one edge 5b of the strip relative to the opposite edge 5c.

When a hollow tubular member is formed from a strip of uniform width as herein described, the successive convolutions of the strip will occupy progressively greater space, measured longitudinally of the shaft, toward the smaller end of the shaft, or to put it in another way, the pitch and also the pitch angle a of the spiral joint 5' will progressively increase from the larger toward the smaller end of the shaft (see Figs. 1 and 2).

The pitch angle a is the angle included between a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the member and a line tangent to the spiral joint or coinciding with the edge of the strip as fed.

For the production of a hollow tapering shaft or tubular member such as shaft 6 shown in Fig. 4, there may also be employed, if desired, a long metal strip of uniformly tapering width. It will be evident that a shaft of given taper can be made from tapering strips of different mean or average width, and it will further be evident that to produce a shaft of given taper the amount of taper-,of the strip from which the shaft is formed will vary with variations in the mean width of the strip, the taper increasing with increase in the mean width and decreasing with decrease of the mean width. Also, it will be evident that for a strip of given mean or average width the amount of taper of the strip required to form a shaft having convolutions with abutting edges will vary with the amount of taper of the shaft, the amount of taper of the strip increasing with increase in the amount of taper of the shaft and decreasing with decrease in the amount of taper of the shaft. When a properly tapered strip is spirally wound as described to form a hollow tapering member, the opposed edges at the spiral joint 'I' will be brought into abutting relation without either of said edges projecting outward past the other a material amount at any point and without permanent longitudinal deformation of the strip.

In a member formed from a properly tapered strip, the pitch P (Fig. 4) will be substantially uniform from end to end of the tapered portion, but due to the decrease in diameter of the member from the larger to the smaller end, the pitch angle a will increase from vthe larger to the smaller end.

A hollow tapering member of the kind shown in Fig. 4 may conveniently be produced by using the apparatus shown in Fig, 2, and except for the deformation of the strip, may be produced in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described in connection with the production of a hollow member from a strip of uniform width, while tempering and finishing operations inthe present instance may be substantially identical with those hereinbefore described.

It is advantageous in making the shafts for some of the golf clubs produced,to employ therefor strips which vary in thickness and which preferably are of uniformly increasing thickness from one end to the other, so as to thereby obtain shafts having the resiliency and whip or snap demanded by different players. This is so either when the strips employed are of uni- 'form width as shown in Figs. 1 and' 2, or of tapering width as shown in Fig. 4.

In finished golf club shafts or other tubular members produced as herein described the spiral joints are usually not readily discernible and ac- "cordingly do not have an unusual appearance.

Golf club shafts or other hollow tubular members produced in accordance with the present invention provide substantial advantages as compared with similar articles produced by methods heretofore employed. Since the grain `of the metal in thel'spirally twisted strip of a shaft or other hollow member produced vin .accordance4 with .the inventionv follows the convolutions of the strip, or in other words is disposed spirally about the axis of such shaft or other member, the

latter will offer a substantially uniform resistance to bending stresses regardless of the direction in which they may be applied. The strength of the member when made/in accordance with the present invention is such that the thickness 0f Vthe stock employed and the consequent weight of the `member need not be greater than in golf club shafts and other hollow members as now made,

and may be even thinner and lighter, and the manufacture of such members in accordance with the present invention is much cheaper than the methods now employed, which require swedging or like operation in order to produce a tapered shaft.

While in order to comply with the patent stat- ',utes with respect to illustration of my invention member, said member'consisting of a spirally twisted long metal strip of varying width in the direction of its length with opposed edge portions of its convolutions secured together, said stripincreasing in thickness substantially from one end to the other thereof.

2. A shaft for golf clubs comprising a hollow member, said member consisting of a spirally twisted long metal strip of uniformly tapering width and uniformly varying thickness substantially from one'end to the other thereof, the opposed edges of the convolutions of said member being secured together.

3. A shaft for golf clubs comprising a hollow tapering member consistingof a long .narrow metal strip of substantially uniform-width spirally twisted about an axis transverse toits length through a plurality of turns into hollow form and having adjacent convolutions secured positively and xedly together.

4. A golf club comprising a striking head and a hollow tapering shaft ixedly secured at its smaller end to said head, said shaft consisting of a single metal strip of substantially uniform width and'of materially -greater length than the shaft spirally twisted through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of the shaft substantially into the tapering form of the shaft, adjacent convlutions of said shaft being secured directly and xedly together.

5. A golf club comprising a striking head and a hollow tapering shaft ixedly secured at its smaller end to said head, said shaft consisting of a single long metal strip of substantially uniform width spirally twisted through a plurality of turns substantially into the tapering form of the shaft, adjacent edge porti-ons of adjoining convolutions of said shaft being secured together and said convolutions increasing in pitch from the larger to the smaller end ofthe shaft.

6. A golf club comprising a striking head and a hollow tapering shaft xedly secured at its smaller end -to said head, said shaft consisting of a single long Ametal strip of substantially uniform width and thickness spirally twisted through a plurality of turnssubstantially into the tapering form of theshaft, the adjacent edge portions of adjoining convolutions of said. shaft being xedly secured together and the successive convolui ions increasing substantially uniformly in pitch from the larger to the smaller end of the shaft.

7. A hollow tapering shaft for golf clubs formed Aof a long metal strip, said strip being spirally -twistedthrough a plurality of turns substantially into the form of the shaft and having opposed edge portions of adjacent convolutions secured together, the said convolutions increasing in pitch from the larger to the smaller end of the shaft.

8. A hollow tapering shaft for golf clubs formed of a long metal strip of substantially uniform Width and thickness, said strip being spirally twisted through a plurality of turns substantially into the form of the shaft and having the adjacent edge portions of its convolutions fixedly secured together, the successive convolutions of the strip increasing substantially uniformly in pitch from the larger to the smaller end of the shaft.

9. A hollow tapering shaft for golf clubs formed "of a long metal strip, said strip being spirally twisted through a plurality of. turns substantially into the form of the shaft and having opposed edge portions of adjacent convolutions secured together, the convolutions of the smaller end portion of the shaft being greater in pitch than those of the larger end portion of the shaft.

10. A hollow tapering shaft for golf clubs formed of 'a long metal strip, said strip being spirally twisted through a plurality of turns into a member substantially of the form of the shaft, said member having .opposed edge portions of adjacent convolutions thereof secured together, the pitch of the convolutions decreasing from the smaller towards the larger end of the shaft for atleast a portion of the length of the shaft.

11. A golf club comprising a head and a tubular shaft formed from a strip of uniform width spirally wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of the shaft, certain convolutions being formed and arranged to produce a tapered portion of the shaft, and adtapered portion of the shaft, the adjacent edge portions of the convolutions being positively connected together, said member intermediate the joints of its convolutions being formed of but a single thickness of said strip.

. 13. A tubular tapering shaft for golf clubs formed of a long metal strip, said strip being spirally Wound through a plurality of turns about an axis transverse to its length, adjacent edge portions of adjoining convolutions being secured together, the pitch of the convolutions increasing towards the smaller end of the shaft for at least a portion of the length of the shaft, said shaft intermediate the joints of its convolutions being formed of but a single thickness of said strip.

14. A golf club comprising a head and a tubular shaft secured to said head, said shaft being formed from a long metal strip spirally wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of the shaft, 'certain convolutions of said strip being formed and arranged to produce a tapered portion of the shaftand adjoining* convolutions of said strip being positively secured together.

15. A golf club comprising a head and a tubular shaft secured to said head, said shaft being formed from a long metal strip of varying width spirally wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of the shaft, certain convolutions of said strip being formed and arranged to produce a tapered portion of the shaft, and adjoining convolutions of said strip being positively secured together.

16. A tubular member having a tapered portion, said member being formed. from a long metal strip spirally. wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of such member, certain successive convolutions of said strip being progressively deformed to produce the said tapered portion of the tubular member, and adjoining convolutions of said strip being positively secured together.

17. A golf club comprising a head and a tapered tubular shaft secured to said head, said shaft being formed from a long metal strip spirally wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of the shaft, the successive convolutions of said strip being formed and arranged to produce the tapered tubular shaft and with their adjacent edge portions in opposed and substantially abutting relation, said opposed edge portions being positively secured together.

18. A golf club comprising a head and a tapered tubular shaft secured to said head, said shaft being formed from a long metal strip ofvarying width spirally Wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of the shaft, the successive convolutions of said strip being formed and arranged to produce the tapered tubular shaft and with their adjacent edge portions in opposed and substantially abutting relation, said opposed edge portions being positively secured together.

19. A tapered tubular member, said member being formed from a long metal strip of uniform Width spirally Wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of the shaft, the successive convolutions of said strip being formed and arranged to produce the tapered tubular member and with their adjacent edge por tions in opposed and substantially abutting relation, said opposed edge portions being positively secured together.

20. A tubular member having a tapered portion, said vmember being formed from a long metal strip spirally wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of said member, the metal of the convolutions of said strip in the tapered portion of said member being deformed longitudinally of the strip to produce said tapered portion of the tubular member and the edges of adjacent convolutions of said strip being positively secured together.

2l. A tubular member having a tapered portion, said member being formed from a long metal strip spirally wound through a plurality of turns extending in one direction axially of said member, the metal of the convolutions of said strip'in the tapered portion of said member be ing deformed longitudinally of the strip so that one edge of said strip is longer than the opposite edge of said strip along a given number of said convolutions, whereby to produce said tapered portion of said member with convolutions having edges in abutting relation, the abutting edges of adjacent convolutions of said strip being positively secured together.

22. A tubular member comprising a tapered portion formed from a long metal strip of substantially uniform Width spirally Wound into a plurality of turns to provide a series of contiguous convolutions, the metal of the strip forming said convolutions being deformed to compensate for the difference in diameter of adjacent convolutions and to bring the opposed edge portions of adjacent convolutions into substantially even and continuous abutting relation and said edge portions being permanently secured together.

` CHARLES L. RITCHIE. 

